Daughter visits watery grave of mine victims

PORTHCAWL’S part in the rescue of a World War II ship hit by a mine off Port Talbot Docks was recognised last week.

PORTHCAWL’S part in the rescue of a World War II ship hit by a mine off Port Talbot Docks was recognised last week.

Five crew members from the Norwegian vessel, the SS Stalheim, were killed when just a few minutes after departure from port the ship struck a German mine on July 31, 1940.

Thirteen others from the ship’s 23-strong crew were seriously injured, with only three escaping unhurt. A buoy now marks the site of the wreck.

A rescue operation was launched from Porthcawl to rescue the injured crew. Flight Lieutenant Douglas Lucas, who commanded the rescue and later settled in Porthcawl after the war, retrieved the ship’s bell, which he donated to Porthcawl Museum for public display after his death in 2007.

And last week a day of remembrance was held to honour those who died in the Wold War II disaster and mark Porthcawl’s part in saving the other injured seamen.

Solveig SynnØve Hanssen, daughter of one of the Norwegian crewmen, contacted Porthcawl Museum seeking assistance in arranging a private ceremony in honour of her father, Anker Bernhard Bernhardsen, and the other four crew members lost in the sinking. The ceremony took place on last Wednesday’s morning tide, when Mrs Hanssen and her party were taken out on a boat to the scene of the sinking by RNLI Port Talbot.

Mrs Hanssen, who last saw her father when she was a little girl of eight as he joined the ship, read a poem and the family sang a Norwegian song before offering prayers and returning to shore.

She said: “I was pleased that I was able to visit my father’s last resting place and honour his memory.”

The voyage was followed by a reception at the RNLI headquarters attended by Mayor of Porthcawl Alana Davies and her consort Brian Davies.

Coun Davies said: “It was wonderful to be invited to share in such a moving event and there were a lot of mixed emotions for the family.”

Following words of thanks from Werner Hanssen, Mrs Hanssen’s son, the chairman of Porthcawl Museum John David presented her with a plaque made from Welsh slate to commemorate the occasion. The party then travelled to Porthcawl Museum, where they were greeted by Madeleine Moon MP, and viewed SS Stalheim’s bell and museum display.

Museum secretary Ceri Joseph accepted a book the family had collated about the ship. They also visited Goytre Cemetery, Port Talbot, to lay flowers at the grave of Albin Andersen, whose body was the only one recovered.

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